Patti as Vera Bernie as Auntie Mame "Light the candles, get the ice out / Roll the rug up, it's today!"
Huh? Huh??"
Ain't NO way Patti would play second fiddle to Bernie. Patti would play a smaller part (Women on the Verge, for example), but she'd never be Vera to Bernie. They'd have to switch the roles nightly or something.
As I said in my edited reply, the only reason I'm not reversing the two or suggesting they alternate, which might work equally well, is that I'm afraid Patti would decide to play Mame like Rose. I don't need to see the dark side of Mame Dennis. At least Vera reflects what Patti really is -- a strega. And it's a sizable enough part that maybe she wouldn't mind playing second banana. I mean, I doubt she wouldn't mind, I'm not an idiot, but one can dream.
I don't mean to insult because I do love her, but I don't think Bernadette's voice would be up to singing Mame eight times a week. It seemed to me Follies was a difficult show for her, and Mame is arguably a larger role and much more vocally demanding. Patti, who is very funny, seems like she would be too broad for Vera. It's a shame that Elaine Stritch never played that before she died.
I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.
Well, let's say we flip the script... Patti as Mame, Bernadette as Vera. Better fit? (I'd like to believe that could still work, but I keep seeing visions of the one-note manic depressive Rose in my head.)
When has Bernadette ever showed a flair for the kind of deadpan comedy that you have to master in order to play Vera? She can be very funny and often is, but I don't know if that is in her particular wheelhouse. Really, Mame is just an odd fit for both of them.
I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.
wonderfulwizard11 said: "When has Bernadette ever showed a flair for the kind of deadpan comedy that you have to master in order to play Vera?"
And that's why I said Patti for Vera. Make up your mind, man! :P It's not like they can't transpose the score for Bernadette.
Having said that, when I picture Bernadette as Vera, I picture her as Vera in opposition to Patti's dark crazy Mame, which may or may not occur were Patti given the role. This would allow for a different take where Vera was slightly brighter and more bubbly.
I just can't see either of them being a good fit for anything in this show. I guess Bernadette could have been a good fit for Agnes when she was younger, but that's about it. If they ever revive it, I'd rather see someone like Andrea Martin play Vera, though I have no idea who would make an ideal Mame.
I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.
No no, I completely agree she'd make a GREAT Vera and heck, may even play her opposite other Mames (I know she loves working with Audra, for example), but I just meant that would be the only way to get her to play a role with only 1 and a half songs to Bernie's many. I actually would LOVE to see that, though.
A Broadway Cares Concert is really what I had in mind when I suggested this thread, and I think the ladies could have so much fun riffing on all the kinds of things suggested in this thread. Can you imagine them doing a mock rivalry "Anything You Can Do...I Can Do Better" duet? Or a medley of all the roles they "should" have played. It would be a hoot and the audience would eat it up.
And of course, I didn't mean to infer Peters and LuPone are the "most relevant" of current music theatre leading ladies, but they are, because of their long careers and the historic roles they've played on Broadway, arguably the most legendary- and certainly the two I think most theatre fans would love to see perform together.
I hope it happens someday and that the occasion isn't Stephen Sondheim or Mandy Patinkin's funeral.
“I knew who I was this morning, but I've changed a few times since then.”
Another reason it would be unlikely for Bernadette to replace Ebersole (besides the reasons already discussed) is that, when they've considered names like LuPone, Murphy and Ebersole - Bernadette would have at least crossed their mind. They've had at least two chances to cast her now but haven't. Either they don't want her, or Bernadette doesn't want them (and I'm guessing it's more the former - she'd be crazy to pass up this opportunity).
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
lovebwy said: "qolbinau I always thought your love of La Peters was simply adorbs."
Thanks <3. I didn't really like musicals until I came across Sweeney Todd and really 'got' how it was possible to explore a story and character with music. After expanding my knowledge and experience through the Sondheim catalogue (and more broadly), Bernadette exemplifies this for me in a way that is rare to find in other actresses.
Bernadette may never have reached the single peaks that some actresses have been able to when the perfect mirage of actor and show come together (e.g., Ebersole in Grey Gardens; Ripley in Next to Normal; Murphy in Passion), even if she has come extremely close (Sunday in the Park). But perhaps more importantly she has turned in a string of very good performances time and time again that are both engaging and continue to show why this art form is such an effective way to tell a story. Few actresses on Broadway have such an extensive list. And too often actresses with incredible peaks seem not to be able to repeat their success in other shows.
I feel like of late Bernadette has lost a bit of popularity on this forum, particularly as her voice ages. But given she has still recently delivered some of the peaks of her career (e.g., Send in the Clowns in NIGHT MUSIC), I myself have no reason to lose interest.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
I'd love to see them perform "The Grass Is Always Greener" from Kander & Ebb's "Woman Of The Year", with Patti in the Lauren Bacall role and Bernadette as the ditzy Marilyn Cooper character.
I doubt it would show off their voices, so maybe it's a horrible idea, but I think it would be great.
Beyoncé is not an ally. Actions speak louder than words, Mrs. Carter. #Dubai #$$$
They could perform in concert: each playing favorites and then a few duets. It will never happen, but worth a fantasy thought.
"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)
I'd love to see them together doing something totally unexpected at Miscast or Broadway Backwards. I know the odds are next to impossible, but it could blow the roof off.
And equally unlikely, but possibly appealing would be a two-person concert/show like what Lupone and Patinkin did a couple of years ago ... only better :)
Years ago, when Patti emailed with fans, I asked for her thoughts on a possible concert pairing with Betty Buckley. She responded: "Are you kidding?"
"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)
Well Betty is a little crazy...it would be easy to say LuPone just doesn't like female competition, but she has performed regularly with Audra McDonald who is hard to top for talent, so I think it's more that Patti just doesn't suffer fools.
I'm curious how LuPone and Ebersole will get along. Ebersole is definitely known for being eccentric.
“I knew who I was this morning, but I've changed a few times since then.”